Cliftonville season preview

2024-25 league position: 7th

Manager: Jim Magilton

Opening fixtures: Bangor (A) - 10 August (live on BBC iPlayer); Coleraine (H) - 16 August; Larne (H) - 19 August (live on BBC iPlayer); Linfield (A) - 23 August; Glenavon (H) - 30 August

Cliftonville are rebuilding once again after a difficult campaign last season which saw them finish in the bottom half of the table and lose the Irish Cup final.

The north Belfast side have lost some of their best players with the likes of Shea Kearney and Axel Piesold moving on and so far, they seem unable to adequately replace them ahead of the start of the season.

Young players Conor Falls and Conor Barr have been brought in and could thrive under Jim Magilton, who has a knack for unearthing young talents, whilst Rhyss Campbell looks to be a good signing from Coleraine.

They have lost a raft of players and only brought in four, so squad depth could be an issue for the Solitude club this term.

It was evident in their Uefa Conference League tie against St Joseph's which they lost in extra-time with their bench full of academy players.

A top-half finish, European football and some deep cup runs will likely be the aim for last year's BetMcLean League Cup winners.

2025-26 signings so far: Conor Falls (Huddersfield Town), PJ Morrison (Alloa Athletic), Conor Barr (Derry City, loan), Rhyss Campbell (Coleraine), Adebayo Fapetu (unattached), Tom Lavery (Sunderland, loan)

2025-26 departures so far: Ruaidhri Donnelly (Newington), Declan Breen (Ballymena), Destiny Ojo (unattached), Kris Lowe (Glenavon), Arran Pettifer (Arbroath), Ryan Markey (unattached), Stephen McGuinness (Bangor), Axel Piesold (end of loan, Galway United), David Odumosu (Cork City), Shea Kearney (Dunfermline), Sean Stewart (Sligo Rovers), Reece Jordan (Loughgall, loan)